Inking cartridge for tape coder

ABSTRACT

The novel inking cartridge for tape coders disclosed includes a plastic bottle or container for ink. A felt wick-type ink pad of rectangular configuration is disposed in the container and extends through a suitable opening provided in the latter, a cap for the container opening sealing the ink pad within the container against the action of spaced coil springs in the container biasing the ink pad towards and against the cap. Opposed brackets are secured to the sides of the container which engage the cap to maintain it in position, and are adapted to mount the cartridge upon a tape coder in operative position.

[15] 3,654,863 [451 Apr. 11,1972

United States Patent Hill et al.

:...118/260 x .;.....101/22sWakai................................401/202 X a n m m mm 1 Oaeflu GHBH700469 66666 99999 11111 552 8 89407 3000009 2 8 073 8226 .3 .2 33333 H1 e m S n w T m f R "M 0 11 t O F m E l G mu m i m as t mm. mm C FK GR xm a Kw m V mC m 1 1 4 2 5 7 1 [73] Assignee: Marsh Stencil MachineCompany, Belleville, 111.

Primary Examiner-J. Reed Fisher Attorney-Kingsland, Rogers, Ezell,Eilers and Robbins [22] Filed: July 11, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 840,955ABSTRACT The novel inking cartridge for tape coders disclosed includes aplastic bottle or container for ink. A felt wick-type ink pad ofrectangular configuration is disposed in the container and extendsthrough a suitable opening provided in the latter, a cap for thecontainer opening sealing the ink pad within the container against theaction of spaced coil springs in the container [52] [51] Int C1 1 1biasing the ink pad towards and against the cap. Opposed brackets aresecured to the sides of the container which engage the cap to maintainit in position, and are adapted to References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS mount the cartridge upon a tape coder in operative position.

1,164,730 Leary.................................101/350 X 7 Claims, 7Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates generally to inking devices, and moreparticularly to a novel inking cartridge for tape coders.

2. Description of the Prior Art Through the years there has been muchactivity in the ink pad art and many patents have been issued on thebroad subject matter. The present assignee is the owner of US. Pat. Nos.3,186,337 and 3,227,080 for tape coders illustrating inking units. Thereare many other such devices, but there are disadvantages inherent ineven the improved structures of the assignees said patents. Vibration ofthe machines may splash ink from the ink troughs. The inking wick iseasily removable and it and the reservoir can be cleaned after suchaction, but this operation is frequently neglected by the user with theresult that the ink becomes sludged and the wick fails to feed properly.Other disadvantages reside in other available structures. There has longbeen the need of a device for supplying ink to the transfer or inkingroll of a coder and the like, which overcomes the known disadvantagesand which can be readily employed in the place of such structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, the present novel inking cartridgefor tape coders comprises a bottle or container for ink within which isdisposed a wick-type ink pad biased outwardly through an opening in thecontainer. A cap seals the ink pad within the container, being held inposition by brackets which also function as supporting means for thecartridge in its attachment to a coder and the like.

Therefore, objects of the present invention are to provide a novelinking cartridge for coders and the like, which fulfills the longexisting need in the art, which can be readily applied to a machine atthe factory, at the office, or in the field, which is a self-containedsealed unit ready for use as a complete replacement for the existinginking device or for the same type cartridge structure, which avoids thespilling of ink both prior to and during use, which, while the containercan be refilled, is inexpensive and can be discarded when empty, whichcan be easily and quickly applied to and removed from a coder and thelike with minimum instruction, which includes a presaturated wick padproviding instant ink feeding for the transfer roll without adjustmentsand without time delay for capillary feeding, which provides for a quickchange-over to other colors, and which otherwise fulfills the objectsand advantages sought therefor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front elevational view ofan inking cartridge for tape coders and the like, constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view thereof, a portion being broken awayto illustrate an attachment detail;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken onsubstantially the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an ink pad forming a part of thepresent cartridge, a portion being broken away for conservation of spaceand a part being in section to show a spring well;

FIG. 6is an enlarged fragmentary view showing a portion of the cap; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view showing the present novel cartridge.attached to a coder in operative relation, a portion of the: coder beingbroken away for space saving and portions of the. coder die wheelsupport being in section for illustration of detail.

2 DESCRIPT ION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawingsmore particularly by reference numerals, 8 indicates generally an inkingcartridge for tape coders, and the like, incorporating the principles ofthe present invention. The cartridge 8 includes a bottle or container 10of the configuration clearly shown in the drawings including an interiortransverse trough l2 and a transverse neck portion 14 defining arectangular opening 16 (FIG. 4). A rectangular felt wick-type ink pad 18has its lower end in the trough l2 and its upper end extending into theneck portion 14 when the container 10 is closed by a cap 20 andprotrudes beyond the opening 16 when the cartridge 8 is in use under thebias of coiled compression springs 22 disposed in wells 24 in the inkpad 18 (FIGS. 4 & 7). The cap 20 is of the configuration clearly shownin the drawings including an elongated base portion 26 receiving agasket 28 of resilient neoprene or other suitable material, a verticalweb 30 serving as a handle portion which can be grasped between thethumb and fingers in removing it from or returning it to the position ofFIG. 4, and an enlarged integral free edge portion 32 of annular crosssection terminating at each end in a camming surface 33 and having anotch 34 adjacent each end, as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 6. Abracket 36 is secured to each side of the container 10 by spaced bossesor buttons 38 formed integral with the container 10 extending throughspaced holes in the brackets 36 and peened over by heat or the like tohold the brackets 36 in position. Each bracket 36 has a hook portion 40and an arm portion 42 including a notch 44. As is clear from FIGS. 3, 4and 6, the hook portion 40 of each bracket 36 fits into a notch 34 whenthe cartridge 8 is in the sealed, ready for use relationship of FIG. 4.

The inking cartridge 8 is sold and stored in the relationship of partsas shown in FIGS. 1-4. In order to ready the cartridge 8 for use on atape coder and the like, the cap 20 is pressed down against theresilience of the gasket 28 to free the hook portion 40 of one bracket36 from the engaged notch 34. In such position, the bracket 36 isdeflected outwardly to permit the cap 20 to be raised and released fromthe other braket 36 in a tilting movement. The hook portions 40 of thebrackets 36 are hooked over the shaft 48 of an inking roller 50 and thenotch 44 of the hook portion 40 engages the roller frame casting 52 of acoder designated generally as 54, see FIG. 7. The coder 54 also includesa die wheel assembly 56 which is in operative engagement with the inktransfer roller 50. It also includes mounting brackets 58, all of whichparts are more particularly shown in the two above'mentioned patents andper se form no part of the present invention. The ink pad 18 extendsbeyond the neck of the opening 16 of the container 10 under theinfluence of the springs 22 into engagement with the ink transfer roller50.

It is palpable from the foregoing description taken with the drawingsthat the cartridge 8 may be readily and quickly removed from theposition of FIG. 7 and quickly recapped, and that another cartridge, asof a different color, may be as quickly readied for use and applied tothe coder 54 in the position of FIG. 7.

The container 10 and cap 20 in a commercial embodiment are made ofplastic materials, but any suitable material may be employed. Thebrackets 36 are of thin springy steel, permitting lateral movement ofthe hook portions 40 in capping and uncapping actions, but othersuitable materials may be employed.

It is clear that there has been provided a novel inking cartridge forcoders and the like which fulfills the objects and advantages soughttherefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example.It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements,rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, whichwill be obvious to those skilled in the arts, are contemplated as withinthe scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is:

1. An inking cartridge for coders and the like comprising, incombination, an ink container, a wick ink pad in and extendable fromsaid container, removable means sealingly and positively holding saidpad in said container, and means positively maintaining said removablesealing and holding means in sea]- ing and holding position, saidsealing means including a compressible sealing gasket, said maintainingmeans comprising a bracket at each side of said container, each bracketincluding a portion releasably engaging said sealing means, saidcompressible gasket cooperating with said engaging portion in permittingrelease of the latter to remove said sealing means.

2. The inking cartridge of claim 1 in which said bracket engagingportion is formed to engage also a part of a coder in mounting saidcartridge thereon, each bracket also including a portion adapted toengage a coder in cooperation with said engaging portion to hold saidcartridge in operative position on a coder.

3. An inking cartridge for coders and the like comprising, incombination, an ink container, a wick ink pad in and extendable fromsaid container, removable means sealingly and positively holding saidpad in said container, and means positively maintaining said removablesealing and holding means in sealing and holding position, means biasingsaid ink pad into engagement with said removable sealing means and intoposition extending from said container upon removal of said removablesealing means, said sealing means including a compressible sealinggasket, said maintaining means comprising a bracket at each side of saidcontainer, each bracket including a portion releasably engaging saidsealing means, said compressible gasket cooperating with said engagingportion in permitting release of the latter to remove said sealingmeans.

4. The inking cartridge of claim 3 in which said bracket engagingportion is formed to engage also a part of a coder in mounting saidcartridge thereon, each bracket also including a portion adapted toengage a coder in cooperation with said engaging portion to hold saidcartridge in operative position on a coder.

5. An inking cartridge for coders and the like comprising, incombination, an ink container, a wick ink pad in and extendable fromsaid container, removable means sealingly and positively holding saidpad in said container, and means positively maintaining said removablesealing and holding means in sea]- ing and holding position, saidsealing and holding means including a handle portion, said maintainingmeans including a bracket at each side of said container having a hookportion engageable with said handle portion to maintain said sealing andholding means in position.

6. The inking cartridge of claim 5 in which said handle portion includesspaced notches, each engageable bracket hook portion being in a notchwhen said cartridge is sealed, and means permitting depression of saidsealing and holding means to allow removal of said engageable bracketportions from said notches.

7. The inking cartridge of claim 6 in which said handle portion includescamming means engageable by and facilitating return of said engageablebracket hook portions to said notches in placing said sealing andholding means on said container.

1. An inking cartridge for coders and the like comprising, incombination, an ink container, a wick ink pad in and extendable fromsaid container, removable means sealingly and positively holding saidpad in said container, and means positively maintaining said removablesealing and holding means in sealing and holding position, said sealingmeans including a compressible sealing gasket, said maintaining meanscomprising a bracket at each side of said container, each bracketincluding a portion releasably engaging said sealing means, saidcompressible gasket cooperating with said engaging portion in permittingrelease of the latter to remove said sealing means.
 2. The inkingcartridge of claim 1 in which said bracket engaging portion is formed toengage also a part of a coder in mounting said cartridge thereon, eachbracket also including a portion adapted to engage a coder incooperation with said engaging portion to hold said cartridge inoperative position on a coder.
 3. An inking cartridge for coders and thelike comprising, in combination, an ink container, a wick ink pad in andextendable from said container, removable means sealingly and positivelyholding said pad in said container, and means positively maintainingsaid removable sealing and holding means in sealing and holdingposition, means biasing said ink pad into engagement with said removablesealing means and into position extending from said container uponremoval of said removable sealing means, said sealing means including acompressible sealing gasket, said maintaining means comprising a bracketat each side of said container, each bracket including a portionreleasably engaging said sealing means, said compressible gasketcooperating with said engaging portion in permitting release of thelatter to remove said sealing means.
 4. The inking cartridge of claim 3in which said bracket engaging portion is formed to engage also a partof a coder in mounting said cartridge thereon, each bracket alsoincluding a portion adapted to engage a coder in cooperation with saidengaging portion to hold said cartridge in operative position on acoder.
 5. An inking cartridge for coders and the like comprising, incombination, an ink container, a wick ink pad in and extendable fromsaid container, removable means sealingly and positively holding saidpad in said container, and means positively maintaining said removablesealing and holding means in sealing and holding position, said sealingand holding means including a handle portion, said maintaining meansincluding a bracket at each side of said container having a hook portionengageable with said handle portion to maintain said sealing and holdingmeans in position.
 6. The inking cartridge of claim 5 in which saidhandle portion includes spaced notches, each engageable bracket hookportion beIng in a notch when said cartridge is sealed, and meanspermitting depression of said sealing and holding means to allow removalof said engageable bracket portions from said notches.
 7. The inkingcartridge of claim 6 in which said handle portion includes camming meansengageable by and facilitating return of said engageable bracket hookportions to said notches in placing said sealing and holding means onsaid container.